Water softeners replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium ions, depending on whether you use sodium chloride or potassium chloride for the resin regeneration. Calcium and magnesium ions are what gives water it's hardness. Sodium is not salt. Sodium chloride is salt and the chloride is essentially stripped off during resin regeneration and dumped. The only way to remove the additional sodium (or potassium) is with a reverse osmosis system (or a distillation system). The sodium that is added, assuming you use sodium chloride to regenerate the resin, is pretty low (approximately 22 mgs per cup of water) but some people prefer not to have the additional sodium. Using potassium chloride for resin regeneration is common for people who don't want the additional sodium. Regardless, only reverse osmosis systems or distillation systems will remove the sodium or potassium that is added as part of the resin regeneration, and other dissolved solids. Typically these are not of any issue unless you are trying to restrict sodium intake (and, if so, use potassium chloride for resin regeneration).
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellyjam
I had Nova installed a few weeks ago but kept my water softner because I like soft water. As Jimbo told me I now have polished soft water and the Nova system has removed the salt.
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